Post-production dialogue in Los Angeles
ADR Recording Studio in Los Angeles Dialogue replacement against picture, for film, television and streaming
Automated Dialogue Replacement (ADR) is one of the most technically demanding disciplines in audio post-production. Every syllable has to match the actor's lip movements, the room tone of the original location, and the emotional pitch of the scene. At MIX Recording Studio in Los Angeles, we handle ADR for independent films, episodic television, documentaries, and streaming content. Our engineers work against picture lock in Pro Tools, the industry standard for post-production, using frame-accurate sync tools and real-time visual cues to keep talent on pace with the original performance.
If you are looking for general voiceover recording, narration, or audiobook production, our voiceover recording page covers those workflows in detail. This page focuses specifically on dialogue replacement against picture.
Built for the whole post team
- Post supervisors and sound editorsCue sheets by reel, scene and character, and session logs with take counts and line identifiers.
- Directors and producersDirect from anywhere over Source-Connect or ipDTL, with synced picture and notes between takes.
- ActorsWatch the scene on the booth monitor, hear the three-beep streamer cue and record without being rushed out.
- Re-recording mixersA clean, uncompressed signal in, so you have full latitude in the final dub.
How an ADR session runs
Four steps from locked picture to delivered lines.
- Picture lockYour locked picture goes into Pro Tools as video satellite or an imported QuickTime reference, locked to the timeline.
- Cue sheetsOur engineers can prepare cue sheets organized by reel, scene and character for the supervising sound editor.
- RecordThe actor watches the scene, hears a three-beep streamer cue and delivers the line in sync. We capture multiple takes per line and comp the best performance.
- DeliverSession logs with take counts and line identifiers, and materials in the format your post team specifies.
Directing from another city? Your director monitors a full-quality feed with synced picture and approves selects remotely. See remote director sessions.
Picture-lock workflow and sync tools
ADR sessions at MIX run in Avid Pro Tools with video satellite or imported QuickTime reference locked to the timeline. The actor watches the scene on a monitor in the booth, hears a three-beep streamer cue, and delivers the replacement line in sync with the original. Our engineers capture multiple takes per line and comp the best performance, then use Synchro Arts VocAlign to tighten timing alignment down to the millisecond level. This approach handles everything from a single word fix to full-scene replacements where location audio was unusable due to traffic, weather, or equipment failure.
The signal chain into the dub
We record through a Neumann U87 or Neumann TLM103 depending on the character's tonal profile, running into a Universal Audio Apollo x8 interface with the Empirical Labs EL8X Distressor for controlled dynamics. The signal stays clean and uncompressed on the way in so the re-recording mixer has full latitude during the final dub. If the production requests a specific microphone or processing chain to match existing scenes, we accommodate that.
How productions work with us
Remote director sessions
Directors and supervisors do not always need to be in the room. MIX supports remote ADR sessions through Source-Connect and ipDTL, allowing a director in New York, London, or Atlanta to hear the performance in real time, give notes between takes, and approve selects without traveling. The actor and engineer work locally in our booth while the director monitors a full-quality feed with synced picture on their end. This workflow is standard on episodic television where schedules compress post-production into days, not weeks. We have run sessions with directors monitoring from home studios, hotel rooms, and network offices. Latency on Source-Connect Pro typically stays under 200 milliseconds, which is low enough for real-time direction without breaking the actor's rhythm.
Union compatibility and session requirements
MIX handles both SAG-AFTRA union-compatible and non-union ADR sessions. For union work, we accommodate standard session requirements: timed breaks, session logs with take counts and line identifiers, and delivery of materials in the format the production's post team specifies. Our engineers are familiar with the paperwork flow and can prepare cue sheets organized by reel, scene, and character for the supervising sound editor. Session turnaround depends on scope. A handful of line fixes for a single actor typically completes in one to two hours. Full-scene replacements or multi-character sessions may run a half day or longer. We schedule ADR sessions with enough buffer between bookings so talent is never rushed out of the booth.
Delivery and paperwork for post teams
What reaches your post team, and how it is prepared.
- Picture
- Pro Tools video satellite or an imported QuickTime reference, locked to the timeline.
- Sync
- Frame-accurate sync tools and real-time visual cues, with Synchro Arts VocAlign for timing alignment.
- Takes
- Multiple takes per line, with the best performance comped.
- Signal
- Recorded clean and uncompressed, so the re-recording mixer keeps full latitude in the final dub.
- Audio files
- 24-bit WAV, with a 48 kHz option for video and broadcast delivery.
- Paperwork
- Cue sheets by reel, scene and character, and session logs with take counts and line identifiers.
- Format
- Materials delivered in the format your post team specifies.
- Your engineer
- If your production brings its own engineer, we provide the room, monitoring and signal chain.
Questions about frame rate, file naming or turnover format? Call +1 323-218-7475 and we will answer them before you book.
ADR-specific gear
The signal chain for ADR prioritizes clarity and consistency with production audio. Primary microphones are the Neumann U87 and Neumann TLM103, both large-diaphragm condensers with the flat, detailed response that post-production mixers prefer. For ensemble ADR or group walla, we bring in the AKG C414 XLS matched pair in cardioid or figure-eight configuration. Processing runs through the Empirical Labs EL8X Distressor and Universal Audio Apollo 8 and Apollo x8 Thunderbolt interfaces. Monitoring in the control room uses Yamaha NS10, Dynaudio LYD 8, and a KRK 10S subwoofer, the same combination our engineers use for mixing and mastering. Pitch correction via Antares Autotune is available when dubbed lines need subtle tuning to match the intonation of surrounding production dialogue. A full inventory of available hardware and software is on the gear list page.
Rates and booking
Studio time, no engineer
- Standard rate$55/hr
- 4 hours or more Mon to Wed, or 6 hours or more Thu to Sun$49/hr
- Overnight 9 hour block, Monday to Wednesday$162
- Overnight 9 hour block, Thursday to Sunday$198
With an engineer
- Session with an Advanced Engineer, from$79/hr
- Session with an Elite Engineer, from$89/hr
Overnight blocks run midnight to 9am. Studio time without an engineer has a 3 hour minimum, and engineered sessions have a 2 hour minimum. Full pricing for all rooms and session types is on the pricing page. Most ADR sessions benefit from booking with one of our engineers who can manage Pro Tools, run the streamer cues, and handle VocAlign processing in real time. If your production brings its own engineer, we provide the room, monitoring, and signal chain.
Studios, networks and post houses: custom production rates on request. Email office@unionrecordingstudio.com with your project details for a quote.
ADR questions from post supervisors
Can our director approve selects remotely?
Yes. MIX runs remote ADR sessions through Source-Connect and ipDTL, so a director in New York, London or Atlanta hears the performance in real time, gives notes between takes and approves selects without traveling. The actor and engineer work locally in our booth while the director monitors a full-quality feed with synced picture. Latency on Source-Connect Pro typically stays under 200 milliseconds.
Do you run SAG-AFTRA union sessions?
MIX runs SAG-AFTRA union-compatible sessions as well as non-union ADR sessions. For union work we accommodate standard session requirements: timed breaks, session logs with take counts and line identifiers, and delivery of materials in the format your post team specifies.
What picture format do you work from, and who runs the cues?
We work in Avid Pro Tools with video satellite or an imported QuickTime reference locked to the timeline. A MIX engineer can manage Pro Tools, run the three-beep streamer cues and handle VocAlign processing in real time. If your production brings its own engineer, we provide the room, monitoring and signal chain.
What paperwork and cue sheets do you prepare for the post team?
Our engineers are familiar with the paperwork flow. We can prepare cue sheets organized by reel, scene and character for the supervising sound editor, and we accommodate session logs with take counts and line identifiers. Materials are delivered in the format your post team specifies.
How long does an ADR session take?
It depends on scope. A handful of line fixes for a single actor typically completes in one to two hours. Full-scene replacements or multi-character sessions may run a half day or longer. We leave enough buffer between bookings so talent is never rushed out of the booth.
What does an ADR session at MIX cost?
Studio time with no engineer is $55 per hour, or $49 per hour for 4 hours or more Monday to Wednesday and 6 hours or more Thursday to Sunday. Overnight 9 hour blocks, midnight to 9am, are $162 Monday to Wednesday and $198 Thursday to Sunday. Sessions with an Advanced Engineer start at $79 per hour and with an Elite Engineer at $89 per hour. Studio time without an engineer has a 3 hour minimum and engineered sessions have a 2 hour minimum. Full pricing is on our pricing page.
Location
MIX Recording Studio is at 539 S Rampart Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057, in the Westlake neighborhood. We are minutes from Koreatown, Downtown LA, Echo Park, Silver Lake, and Hollywood. The building has on-site parking for clients and we are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call (323) 218-7475 to discuss your project or book directly online. MIX also offers voiceover recording, mixing, mastering, and Dolby Atmos services.
- Address539 S Rampart Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057
- HoursOpen 24 hours, 7 days a week
- ParkingOn-site parking for clients
- Phone+1 (323) 218-7475
Book your ADR session at MIX
Picture-lock dialogue replacement in Los Angeles, with remote director sessions and SAG-AFTRA union-compatible sessions. Open 24/7.